Safe Places and Apple Slices: The Healing Magic of "Little-Kid Days"

Yesterday, I had a little-kid day.

I woke up feeling my inner child screaming for something safe. She was terrified, caught in the heavy, echoing memories of the past that had resurfaced over the last two weeks. In that moment, I knew it was time for adult me to step up and finally be the safe harbor she never had.

I didn't try to force productivity. Instead, I turned on The Magic School Bus and let it play all day in the background while I curled up and played games on my phone. As the familiar, nostalgic sounds filled the room, I could physically feel my inner child begin to relax, let her guard down, and simply enjoy the day.

Our kitchen was running a bit low on food, but as I looked around, I managed to piece together the absolute perfect snack for her: crisp apples and creamy peanut butter. I had completely forgotten how much I used to love that combination. Even though the adult version of me was still struggling a bit with the lingering weight of the week, little Ashley was entirely, deeply taken care of.

I’ve come to realize that having these intentional "little-kid days" is incredibly important.

Unfortunately, so many people completely ignore their inner child. They choose to look the other way, or they feel a deep sense of embarrassment at the thought of comforting that younger part of themselves because they think, "That’s not what adults are supposed to do." But I truly believe the world would be carrying so much less stress, and people would walk around feeling so much happier, if they just took the time to stop and listen to what their inner child actually needs.

I used to ignore her, too. For a long time, I was terrified to look inward. I was afraid that I would end up damaging her all over again, repeating the exact toxic patterns my parents inflicted on me.

But I was wrong. I found that by accepting her, actively talking to her, dedicating entire days to her comfort, and picturing myself physically holding her when she is scared, I feel whole again.

And the absolute best part? She feels safe with me. She knows I am in the driver's seat now, and she trusts me. I am giving her the protection and unconditional safety that she never got from most of the adults in her life.

Sometimes, the highest form of self-care isn't a complex ritual or a grand plan. Sometimes, it’s just a cozy blanket, a childhood cartoon, and a plate of apple slices.

Thank you for sticking around as I navigate the fog of life and trauma.

With love from the shadows, Ashley



If my words have offered you a moment of healing, consider buying me a coffee. Your support keeps this voice independent and the magic moving.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Sacred Earth: A Ritual of Primordial Release

Image
     For a long time, we were taught that healing had to be "bright." We were told to look upward, to seek the light, and to wash ourselves in a sterile, pale glow. But for those of us who have walked through the deep thickets of the shadows, the light can feel cold. It can feel like a "church mindset" that asks us to hide our scars and speak in whispers. I have found a deeper, more ancient solace in the  Earthy Dark . My Goddesses—the ones who stand at the crossroads and the ones who flew from the garden to find their own sovereignty—do not ask me to be "pure." They ask me to be  Solid . They are ethereal, yes, but they have the weight of mountains and the heat of the deep earth. When I lean into the energy of  Lilith  or  Hekate , I am not looking for a distant, judging god. I am looking for the Mother of Shadows who knows exactly what it feels like to be cast out, misunderstood, and yet remain unbroken. She is grounded. She is ancient. She does...
Read more

The Great Betrayal: When the Fairy Tale Burns

Image
     We are taught from a young age that if you do the right thing—if you speak up, if you provide the evidence, if you use your voice—the system will catch you. They call it "justice." They call it "karma." Yesterday, I watched that fairy tale burn to the ground. After months of being told "the lawyers have it in the bag," after video proof of a confession, and after the agonizing toll this has taken on our spirits, the verdict came back:  Not Guilty.  Not because the crime didn't happen, but because of a level of state negligence that is almost impossible to fathom. When the "System" fails us this catastrophically, it isn't just a mental blow; it is a physical poisoning. For those of us already navigating the tilting decks of the  Dizzy Sea , this isn't just "stress." It is a massive influx of fire in the veins. When the state fails to provide sanctuary, the body remains in a state of  Hyper-Vigilance . Your internal compa...
Read more

The Sacred Pause: The Alchemy of Stillness

Image
    In a world that worships the "Burn," we are told that to stop is to fail. We are told that our worth is measured by how much wood we can throw onto the fire. But any Alchemist knows that a flame that burns too high for too long eventually turns everything to ash. For a long time, I viewed the moments when my body demanded a stop—when the  Dizzy Sea  rose or the fire in my spine became too bright—as a defeat. I saw it as my body "giving up." But I was wrong. These moments aren't a collapse; they are a  Sacred Pause . When we are in a state of constant "doing," our energy is scattered. We are like a jar of water that has been shaken—everything is cloudy, turbulent, and gray. The Sacred Pause is the act of setting the jar down. The Settling:  As you be still, the "visual noise" of your life begins to sink to the bottom. The Clarity:  Only in the stillness does the water become clear enough for you to see the reflection of your own soul. The...
Read more